Comments on: Mini-Dorms A New Trend In College Housing?

By: Brandon

Brandon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:26:27 +0000

We are a student housing and investment consulting team in College Station and Austin. While in college, my parents helped me purchase a house where I rented out the other 3 rooms. Since, then I have kept that house and purchased 7 more in college station. Feel free to check out our website.

By: Gene

Gene — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:59:25 +0000

Well, that’s why you only rent to foreign grad students, they basically live in their laboratory or carrel and come back to the room just to sleep, no parties or whatnot

By: Len

Len — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:31:25 +0000

Any decent investor with an ounce of integrity would stay far away from mini-dorms. On the surface, an unknowing investor may think they sound like a good idea; to provide much-needed housing for students.

But the reality is far different; they totally blight single-family neighborhoods and make life a living-nightmare for the long-time residents. Imagine living next to an “Animal House” frat.

That’s what many of these monstrosities are like, complete with concreted-over front yards for parking, kids urinating on the neighbor’s homes, spent condoms on the sidewalks, beercans, broken glass, loud fights, all-night parties, etc., etc, etc. Nice. Imagine your parents or your 30-something son, daughter-in-law and kids having to live next to one of these monstrosities, only to find out that they can’t afford to move out because no-one else wants to buy in that neighborhood. It’s a downward-spiraling mess.

I know first hand because I’m also in San Diego, but unlike Roberta above, I’m one of the “poor, unfortunate neighbors” who has to live and deal with this blight. “Shrewd investors are thinking outside the box” I believe Roberta said – what a sanitized, ignorant way to describe a horrendous situation. Well, I got news for you Roberta, these “shrewd investors” have spread their cancer all over San Diego – they even have at least one in La Jolla now, so even your neighborhood isn’t safe. Please take your head out of your arse and pay attention to what’s REALLY going on!

We residents, literally hundreds of us, are fed up and we’re getting organized – very organized – in San Diego, at least, there IS going to be a huge battle over this issue. And we’re going to win. Shrewd investors would be better off investing in properties that won’t be illegalized.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:51:38 +0000

John

Great points. Universities would be hard press to meet the needs like the private sector.

Tom

By: John Smith

John Smith — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:20:36 +0000

This is an idea that is running out of time. Savvy investors began doing this in the late 60’s. The current real estate trend if for national real estate investment trusts (REIT student housing – Google it) to develop purpose-built student housing complexes near campuses – with amenities like weight rooms, convience marts, totally furnished units rented by the single room. Individual investors can never match this. This is what’s happening in the market right now. As an individual investor I would be wary of being burned by investing in mini-dorms.

By: Roberta Murphy

Roberta Murphy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:25:36 +0000

I can’t help but weigh in on this issue as a San Diego real estate broker:.

Not only is this housing an alternative to college dormitories, but it also yields a much higher return per square foot than typical residential rentals. In San Diego, shrewd real estate investors are thinking outside the box and aiming for cash flow.